Poured an oily black with a tan head. Lacing all the way to the bottom of the goblet. Smell is sweet and roasty but not too overpowering. Slight sweet caramel flavor with a lingering vanilla, cherries. Very light hop finish with roasted malt all the way home. Chewy body, very nice to sit and sip if it were snowing...
Alcohol is very well hidden in this monster. I cant wait to take some home in the bottle!

on tap at the chapter house and served in the black water series own line of glassware.
poured black black black, with little head until I poured it into a big glass and it produced a thick creamy dense tan head that lasted until the final drop. very balanced and smooth aroma with a bit of alcohol. intense concentrated creamy oily mouthfeel and is so smooth. surprisingly little roasted character, would expect some some from a heavy stout like this. oats seem to mellow and smooth out the rough edges on this. so so drinkable despite the alcohol content. don't even think about letting this get pass you with out trying it.

Part of the Black Water series of big beers from Southern Tier, 11% ABV per label. Poured an opaque black with a thinner deep mocha colored head atop that left a half ring around my pint glass.

Deep bitter chocolate and espresso coffee in the nose that brought on a bit of earth and fruitiness very deep and entrenched "dark" aromas,pretty much perfection on the palate deeply roasted and rich flavors bitter chocolate and molasses dominates up front with a bit of vanilla and dark roast coffee and wood hovers, a big earthy almost leafy presence shows up in the finish.

Complex and well rounded the alcohol begins to show some heat after a bit but never intrudes on the flavors, kick ass new "big one" from Southern Tier which I expected.

Appears a burnt dark black completely opaque shields all and any pigment from the visible light spectrum forms a large thicket of mocha tan head leaves light even lacing as it dwindles down. Aroma is full of burnt roasted malts with dark chocolate cream accented notes with alcohol and ripened fruit blended in. Soft sweet oatmeal girth and a deep herbal minty hop profile express themselves as well. Roasted malt alcohol burn with a chocolate liqueur quality upfront herbal bitterness heavy sweetness raisin and plum galore, as it warms flavors rush the palate even more I have loved every Blackwater Series offering this one is no different loads of flavor oatmeal added with brown sugar sweetness. Mouthfeel is full bodied syrupy thick ass texture, a beer I can definitely bite into carbonation is even carries this heavy body pretty well. Drinkability is great a whole 22oz is my limit but Im willing to share this one next time around, although I might have to track down a whole case.

(Served in a nonic)
The bottle says 11% ABV
A- This beer pours a jet-black body with a creamy thin chocolate milk colored head. This beer is too dense to see any carbonation.

S- This beer has a dark rich black malt smell with nice complexity and a nice note of cream and dark chocolate malt.

T- This beer has an inky black malt and black roasted grain flavors with a hint of tar and some light bourbon notes. There is also some caramel malt notes with a soft bitterness of grain that lingers briefly after each sip.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a silky texture and a light chewy texture as the beer warms.

D- This is a very well built beer with lots of great bold flavor with a nice complexity. It is just delicious. This is a great session beer but at that ABV two is all I can handle before I call it a night.

A - Pours a sold jet black and a soft pour lead to the minimal of head, just a ring but lacing looks good.

S - From what I can smell this beer smells sweet. Touches of candy and syrup like chocolates with surprising very little coffee or roasted malt. Balanced.

T - Ow wow that's tasty! Where the alcohol? Seriously I get Smooth tones of baker chocolate and sweet roasted coffee's. Not sure of the age but it was not very sweet and cloying or extreme roasty in anyway. Just smooth chocolate tones. Lovely.

M - I may be the only one but this drinks damn smooth like a medium body. No way is this 11 percent.

Overall I got what I hoped to get. Sweet, balanced, chocolate. Not sure the age since they don't date, could be months, could be years. All I know is my bottle was perfect. Can't wait to finish the bomber!

The Oat pours a deep, viscous black color with possibly brown edges if held up to a bright light. It has a thick brown head that leaves great lace and a thin later above the beer. The smell is of brown sugar and roasted malt, sugar, and molasses. The taste follows the smell but a great bitter aftertaste from the burnt characteristics. Dark brown sugar is heavily apparent. The beer has a full body and is very silky. Like a pumkin beer really tastes nothing like a pumpkin but reminds you of it, the Oat does the same for oatmeal. This beer is done in typical Southern Tier fashion.

Taste of dark chocolate and espresso. Nice warming alcohol on the back end as it goes down. Very heave mouthfeel that feels great as it wonders and is chewed. Drinkability is amazingly high for a 12.5% ABV. No doubt about it that this one is terrific choice for a cold blustery winter day.

pours a brown/black color with NO head regardless of how hard of a pour you go for, just a thin ring of light brown. smells like chocolate oatmeal, as though such a thing existed but if it did it would smell like this beer. and holy shit the taste, chocolate, oatmeal, malty smooth, not at all harsh from abv. just a fantastic taste, with a mouth-feel to match, velvet, pure velvet, for those who don't get me, subtle crispness/carbonation that tingles as though little flavor crystals just skimmed across your tongue. drinks fairly easy for 12.5%. TRY THIS BEER!!!

Deep black in color-not as much head as the label would have you believe. Lightly carbonated-nice lacing as it goes down. Mellow aroma of roasted malts and oats. Quite grainy. Slick and oily oat flavor. Decent level of roasted malts against a fairly heavy dose of hops. Really great slickness to it with the roasted flavor. Slightly spiced-cinnamon and licorice. Perfect mouthfeel-as before with the oilyness. Not a touch of alcohol in there. Almost the perfect brew going on here. A great drinkability. I cant get enough of the mouthfeel on this one. Great, great beer.

Appearance: Why is it characterized as "jet" black? Like, this stuff is black, but how does that equate to a jet. Maybe. "pitch"???!

Smell: Very roasty and a little bit of earthy hops. Coffee, and Chocolate.

Taste: Coffee, Chocolate, and a slightly estery yeast flavour.

Mouthfeel: Smooth is such a generic term. This beer is small-bubbled and delicious. There's definitely a lot of hops that were thrown in the boil.

Drinkability: Much like their Java, the alcohol is there in intoxication, but almost absent in taste and aroma. This makes it excessively easy to drink. The bitterness makes it a little charcoal-y but holy crap, what an incredible beer.

Overall: I'm happy with this beer, but way too expensive. Over $10 per bottle, I'd probably rather have a Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. They're extremely similar, but this stuff is really nice.

Deep black in the glass, but pours with a bit of very dark ruby to it. Small fluffy capping of tanned foam reaches about a pinky high before residing to a grouping of large bubbles along the edge. Lacing of long inky glob and a bunch of spots is placed well across the glass.

Aroma is mostly blackened things and tenderly crisp with a small oaty sweetness hidden underneath. Burnt grains, coffee, bread crusts, molasses, and oats are all singed to make a close cousin nose to cooked brown sigar and charcoal.

Flavors are quite nice with lots of girthy length and smoothness in a well established stout style of oaty sweetness, slight molasses, burntish hints of grains, grasses, and coffee. There's a smallish hint to some milk chocolate as it warms that renders even more smoothness to its body which is quite welcoming and pleasing to the overall character. It grabs some favorable flecks of burnt wood notes as it finishes and the easy going warth the creep in after each sip is quite nice.

Feel is quite smooth and just over a medium body and holds a nice length in its overall tone and holds that tone well the whole way thru. Becomes quite chocolatey as it warms and has lots of depth in its flavor profile with burntish stuff.

One very solid stout and nothing short of what Southern Tier cranks out!

A- Pours a deep black opaque gasoline color with seemingly no head. Seconds later a dark brown foam emerges at the top of the brew. It peaks at about 3 fingers before slowly subsiding to 1 finger with good retention. Some lacing is left behind in the glass. This brew is still and opaque black when held up to the light.

S-Big slightly roasted chocolate malt smell upfront with hints of toffee and alcohol. Warm and welcoming but at the same time ominous and robust.

T- Lots of bittersweet dark chocolate upfront with a hearty malty backbone and hints of toffee. The flavor intensifies for the finish and a subtle presence of hops appears. What lingers is dark chocolate toasted malt and a blanket of alcohol warmth.

M- Low to medium carbonation mouthfeel and a nice oatmeal stout heaviness. The body is not to thick and a but slicker than most due to the alcohol.

D- This imperial stout stands out to me as one of the best I have had to date. At such a high ABV the alcohol is not hidden-but it is an important part of the character of this beer and compliments the flavor well. Southren Tier has yet to disappoint me and I am going to continue to try their brews because they always seem to be impressive.

Note on bottle recommended a snifter. Not fancy enough to own one and drank from a wine glass. Still, this stuff is off the hook. I so rarely buy stouts for myself, but I got this as a birthday present. If you're like me and mainly drink lagers and pale ales, do yourself a favor and grab this hearty stout. Definitely meant to be enjoyed, not chugged. Hits the same brain receptors as the Unibroue "I can't remember what I did last night" feeling.

P: Dark leathery brown from the bottle, and sits obsidian black with very little light streaming in on the edge of the glass. Even with a vigorous pour, there's barely a 1/2 inch head of walnut brown foam that disappears quickly.

T: Wow! This is amazing! Sweet, roasted malts mix with oats and dark chocolate for a sweet start. Then, blackstrap molasses, currant, and alcohol hit the scene and mingle nicely. Coffee hits on the back-end, and joins the chocolate and booze for a slick & resinous finish.

M & D: Very full-bodied, thick, rich, and luxurious. It's like melted dark chocolate, so slick and smooth. Drinkability is through the roof, even for 11% ABV!

Notes: This is top-notch brew in my book. Insane amount of delicious flavor, enough complexity to keep it interesting, and a mouthfeel that's out of this world! Damn, I wish Southern Tier would expand their distribution out to CA so I could try the rest of their line. If they're anything like this, I would love to have a stockpile in my refrigerator. Highly recommended

Pours an opaque darkness with an impressive dark brown head that fades fairly quickly, leaving behind a full, but light, speckled lacing pattern that resembles the surface of a citrus fruit. The smell immediately reveals the alcohol content within. It has that vanilla cherry oak barrel treatment aroma and the onset reminds me somewhat of the sweetness of a dark chocolate / caramel / oat / coffee Cadbury Easter Egg. Lightly carbonated, the mouth feel is that classic smooth and syrupy American Double Stout with that widely sought after 'coating texture' only found with premium Double Stouts. The flavor mirrors the nose. At 12.5% ABV, its a good idea to make this one the last one for the road or the first one from the Barcalounger. Really glad that Southern Tier decided to bottle this one! Highly recommended!!!

I have been short of coin lately for purchasing the kinds of high-test, super-high quality beverages that I like so much, so sampling new (for me) goodies such as Imperial Oat needed to wait a couple months. This, good readers, is well worth the wait, and well worth obtaining if at all possible.

Deep onyx topped with a smattering of intermittent tan froth that fades fast. The color, however, is beautiful enough to merit a big score--rich black, with ruby trim. Big and beautiful. The aroma is a little subtle at first, but really rises to the occasion as it warms slightly--licorice, molasses, caramel, dark chocolate--wonderful.

As is the taste, with all aspects of the smell well represented. There is also a nice, hoppy bite in the aftertaste, to me indicative of the Columbus funk and Williamette woody cask flavor. The molasses and licorice are especially rich in flavor. Excellent, and the alcohol is tucked away nicely. The mouthfeel brings it home well, creamy and smooth in texture with a nice bite in flavor--terrific combination. With the 11% ABV, I anticipated this being more of a sipper than it is. Imperial Oat sure is potent, but laying waste to a bomber bottle of Oat isn't at all difficult.

Southern Tier continually proves itself to be one of the very best breweries in the US, in my opinion. Imperial Oat is an outstanding addition to Southern Tier's burgeoning repertoire, another big, brassy Imperial beer in a series that may well be superior to Boulevard's Smokestack series.

The beer smashes across the tongue, leaving havok in its wake. This is a good thing. Rich dark fruits floating in a rushing river. An undercurrent of coffee. A pleasant warming but no alcoholic burn. A gentle sandpapering by the oats, rounding off the rough edges. Chocolatly finish.

Rich slick smooth mouthfeel. Great drinkability for an imperial stout this big.

Another great bomber from Southern Tier. Seek it and its brothers out.

a - poured a one finger thick coffee-colored head into an oversized goblet. left a creamy sheet and ring throughout. the body was black as night.
s - chocolate, caramel with a hint of bourbon.
t - chocolate, ripe cherries, coffee, oats again with a hint of bourbon.
m - creamy and slick, really coats the tongue.
d - wonderful sipper. first time i've had this and i loved it. has a little heat to it and it would be incredible on a very cold night. good fresh and might even get better with age. i have another bomber that i'm going to age for a year and see what happens.

A- Very, very dark, hardly any light gets through. Only the slightest head forms, and that quickly disappears.

S- It's a formidable scent. It stings the nostrils... in a good way. Dark chocolate and licorice jump out at first. Boozy, fruity aromas are present too, reminiscent of cherries. Now this is what an Imperial Stout should smell like.

T- Sweet upfront with chocolate and dark fruits. You can tell that this is a very strong beer; the alcohol is always there, but it doesn't get in the way. The roasted malts really come out in the finish with a nice burnt flavor.

M- Thick and syrupy with just enough carbonation to liven things up a bit.

D- A good sipper, but too strong to have much of in one sitting. I'd suggest splitting the bomber between two people, but it's good enough that you might end up wanting the whole thing.

This is a superb Imperial Stout. It reminds me of Stone IRS, and that is most certainly a good thing. The smell is superb, the taste is rich and complex... it's the perfect beer to warm you up on a cold night. If you're a fan of big stouts you should definitely get some if you can. Highly recommended.

Part of the Black Water series of big beers from ST,11% ABV per label.Poured an opaque black with a thinner deep mocha colored head atop that left a half ring around my Guinness pint glass.Deep bitter chocolate and espresso coffee in the nose that brought on a bit of earth and fruitiness very deep and entrenched "dark" aromas,pretty much perfection on the palate deeply roasted and rich flavors bitter chocolate and molasses dominates up front with a bit of vanilla and dark roast coffee and wood hovers, a big earthy almost leafy presence shows up in the finish.Complex and well rounded the alcohol begins to show some heat after a bit but never intrudes on the flavors,kick ass new "big one" from Southern Tier wich I expected.

appearance: Pitch black beauty with a full mocha head.
smell: Very nice. Mild dark chocolate. Maybe dark mixed with milk. Not as knock your socks off as Mokah but a very inviting nose.
taste: Oh, that's smooth and tasty. Again, not as in your face as some but just smooth goodness.
mouthfeel: Full creamy, light carbonation.
drinkability: This is the 3rd in the Blackwater series for me (after Unearthly and Mokah) and each has been extraordinary. Bravo.